Fuse box structure



May 10, 1932- J. F. DOHRWARDT FUSE BOX STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 14, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet l May 10', 1932. .1. F. DOHRWARDT FUSE BOX STRUCTURE FiledNov. 14, 1929 2 SheetsJSheet 2 t i Mr W Patented May 10, 1932 UNITEDsrarss rarest raies;

JOHN F. DOHRWARDT, OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WISCONSEN, ASSIGNOR T'O LINE MA-TERIAL COMPANY, OF SOUTH IIIILWAUKEE, 'W ISCON SIN, A CORPORATON OFDELA- WARE FUSE BOX STRUCTURE Application led November 14, 1929. SerialNo. 407,038.

My invention relates to fuse box structures of the type in which a fuseor other conductor is removable bodily from a circuit in which the boxis connected in series. It is the object of my invention to provide anew and improved arrangement of parts by reason of which the operator isenabled more easily and more safely to insert the fuse or otherconductor element into the box in operative position for closing thecircuit.

In devices of this type, it is important that adequate means be providedfor guiding the removable fuse or other switching element positively andsurely to its operative circuit closing position so as to prevent anypossibility of arcing under ordinary conditions by reason of faultyplacement of the switching element. To this end, it is one of the obectsof my invention to provide means adapted by engagement with one end ofthe fuse element to locate such end definitely in substantially itsoperative position before the other end of the elementis brought intoposition for bridging the gap. It is another object of my invention toprovide an arrangement of this type in which the fuse or other conductormember may be swingingly anchored in position with at least one end ofthe conductor element out of engagement with its ultimate circuitconnection in such manner that a blow on the outer face of the movableconductor assembly serves to move it to operative circuit closingposition without the necessity for being actually grasped and supportedby the hand of the operator at the time when the closing of the circuitis effected.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type insundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which lhave accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings andare hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be newand desire to cover by Letters Fatent is set forth in the claims.

lin the drawings,-

Fig. l is a central vertical section through the pref-erred form of myimproved fuse box structure Fig. 2 is a front face view of the boxmember of my improved construction, with the cover member removed;

F ig. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken substantially at line 3 3 ofFig, 2, but with the coveri ember and the parts carried thereby inposition;

F t is a horizontal cross section taken at line i-e of Fig. 2, with thecover member in position on the box member;

Fig. 5 is a side face view of my improved construction, showing achanged position of the cover member and the parts carried thereby, aportion of the box being broken away foi better illustrating myconstruction;

Fig. 6 is a central vertical section similar to F ig. 1, but showing achanged position of the parts, with certain of the parts broken away forclearness of illustration; and

F ig. 7 is a side View of a modified form of conductor means.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, in which correspondingparts are indicated by t-he same reference characters, 10 indicates abox member made of porcelain or other suitable insulating material,provided in the construction shown with a bracket 11 of any suitabletype by which it may be supported rigidly in position. The box member 10is open at its front face, such front face of the box beingnormallyclosed by a lid or cover member 12 in the form of a plate, beingpreferably provided with a handle 13 of any suitable type on its outerface.

As is best shown in Fig. 1, the box 10 is provided with a partition 14extending from side to side of the box at about its middle point, suchpartit-ion being formed integrally with the box. Line terminals 15 and16 of any suitable type are mounted rigidly in position in the boxmember 10 at opposite sides of the partition 14, such line te 1minalsbeing preferably in the form of copper or bronze castings. The lineterminal 15 has connected thereto a circuit wire 17 extending inwardlythrough an opening 18 in the side of the box member (see Fig. 4), andthe terminal 16 has connected thereto a circuit wire 19 extendingthrough an opening 2O (see Figs. 2 and 6).

The line terminal 16 has connected therewith a clip 21 comprising twospaced resilient lingers which extend toward the open face of the boxmember, such spaced resilient lingers comprising the clip 21-beingpreferably reenforced by a second resilient clip 22, as is best shown inFig. 3. At their outer ends, the lingers 21 are provided with upwardlyextending lugs or lingers 23 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.The line terminal 15 likewise is provided with resilient clips 24 and 25of similar construction, except that they are not provided with theupwardly extending lugs.

As is best shown in Fig. 3, the outer end portions of the lingers of theclip 21 are diagonally disposed adjacent to and including the upwardlyextending lugs 23, so as to act as guides for the part to be enteredbetween them.

In like manner, the outer end portions of the fingers of the clip 2st(see Fig. d) are diagonally disposed at 24a so as to guide the removableconductor member into position therebetween as hereinafter described.

Upon the inner face of the lid or cover member 12, I have mounted aconductor member in the form of a fuse or otherwise as may be desired.In the construction shown in Fig. 1, this conductor structure comprisesterminals 26 and 27 in the form of blocks of copper, such terminalsbeingl mounted upon the cover member 12 in position to have operativeengagement with the clips 24 and 21 respectively, the terminals 26 and27 being preferably mounted upon the cover member in Vsuch manner as tohave a limited amount of play thereon. In the construction shown, theterminals 26 and 27 are provided with aligned openings through Which atube 28 of insulating material extends, forming a conduit for thefusible conductor member 29 which is connected with the terminal 26 bymeans of a screw-threaded cap 30 and is connected with the terminal 27by means of a set screw 31 having a screwthreaded seatat the inner faceof the terminal 27. In the construction shown, the fuse member 29extends outwardly through a notch 32 formed in the lower end of the tube28, an auxiliary tube member33 also of insulating` material beingemployed as an extension for the tube 23, serving substantially to closethe notch 32 about the fusible element 29, the auxiliary tube member 33being secured in position upon the tube 23 by means of screw threads.

By the use of the construction as above described, tlie line wire 17 isoperatively connected with the line wire 19 through the medium of theclip 24, the fuse terminal 2G, the cap 30, the fuse member 29, the setscrew 31, the fuse terminal 27, and the clip 21. "When it is desired tobreak the circuit comprising the lead wires 17 and 19, this result iseffected by drawing the lid or cover member 12 by a direct pull out ofoperative position for carrying the fuse terminals 26 and 27 out ofengagement with the clips 24; and 21 respectively. When it is desired toplace a new fuse member in position, ready access is afforded to theparts, with the cap 30, the set screw 31, and the extension sleeve 33all removed. lVhen a fuse element has been burned out, so as to makenecessary the installation of a new fuse element in the box, there isordinarily no means for determining by conditions at the box whether therupture of the fuse has been caused by a temporary overload at somepoint along the circuit or has been caused by a permanent overload whichmust be located and obviated. It very often happens that when a new fuseis inserted in the tube 28 upon the reinsertion of the lid or covermember 12 in operative position the fuse is again immediately blown. Byreason of the possibility or probability that a fuse will blow at anytime when the cover member is moved to its operative position, it isimport ant that precautions be taken for obtaining the best possibleconditions with respect to the operation of inserting the fuse member soas to prevent possible injlury to the operator by being burned or byreason of being surprised into losing his balance and falling to theground.

For providing the desired favorable conditions, I have employed acombination com prising means for guiding the fuse terminals intooperative position with respect to the line terminals in the box. In theconstruction shown, this guiding means comprises the lugs or hooks 23mounted on the outer ends of the lingers of the clip 21, such lugs orhooks being adapted to cooperate with outwardly extending lugs 34carried by the fuse terminal 27, as is perhaps best shown in Fig. 5.Vhen it is desired to insert the fuse member into operative circuitclosing position, the operator, holding the structure through the mediumof the handle 13, pushes the fuse terminal 27 into engagement betweenthe outer ends of the fingers of the clip 21, with the lugs 34 inengagement with the hooks Ior lugs 23, and with the lid or cover member12 in engagement with a portion of the box member 10, as at 35 as shownin Fig. 5, the weight of the cover member and the parts connectedtherewith serving to hold the cover member in position as sh-own in Fig.5 at a slight angle from the vertical or operative position. After thecover member has been placed in the position as shown in Fig. 5, themember can be forced to its final operative position by a blow on theouter face of the member, which Vserves to swing the fuse terminal 2Gtoward the left into engagement with the clip member 24. Thisapplication of force to the outer face of the cover member also servesto push luk) the lower end of the assembly farther into the lower end ofthe box 10. At an intermediate portion of the movement into finaloperative position, the beveled outer end faces of guide pins 3G carriedby the cover member 12 are brought into engagement with guide ribs 37formed at opposite sides of the box l0, serving to move the cover member12 upwardly by a camming action for bringing the cover member` into itsfinal operative position as shown in Fig. l.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a modified form of conductor member forreplacing the terminals 26 and V27, the tube 28, and the fusible element29, together with their connected parts. This modified form of structurecomprises blocks 38 and 89 corresponding with the terminals 26 and 27 ofthe construction above described, such blocks 38 and 39 being formedintegrally with each other in the form of a bronze or copper casting.Outwardly extending lugs 40 are provided upon this conductor in the samerelative position as that occupied by the outwardly extending lugs 34kof the construction first described. The arrangement is such that thisdevice is adapted to be connected directly to the plate 12 in lieu ofthe fuse and its mounting parts as above described, being provided withattaching lugs il in suitable position thereon for effecting thispurpose, Fig. 7 being shown on a slightly larger scale than that uponwhich Fig. 6 is shown.

4By the use of my improved construction, comprising either the device asfirst above described or the device as shown in Fig. 7, an operator isenabled safely to place the parts in the condition as shown in Fig. 5and then without danger to himself forcing the parts home to operativeposition without being compelled to effect this result While having theparts actually in his grasp.

While I prefer to employ substantially the construction as shown in mydrawings and as above described, it is to be understood that myinvention is not to be limited thereto except so far as the claims maybe so limited by the prior art, it being understood that changes maywell be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim l. A device of the type described, comprising in combination amember in the form of a box open at one face, a member in the form of aplate loosely mounted on the box at said open face portion, terminals insaid box in spaced relation to each other, a conductor element carriedby said plate and movable therewith into releasable engagement with saidterminals, and positively acting means for movably supporting said platemember in slight angular position with respect to its final operativeposition with at least one end of said conductor element out ofengagement with the corresponding terminal.

2. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a member inthe form of a box open at one face, a lid member in the form of a plateloosely mounted on the box for closing said face, terminals in said boxin spaced relation to each other, a conductor element carried by saidplate and movable therewith into releasable engagement with saidterminals, and interengaging lugs carried by said lid member and saidbox member for swingingly supporting said lid member from its lower endand adapted positively to limit outward swinging of the lid on the boxso as normally to hold said lid member swung outwardly to a slight anglefrom the vertical with the .upper end of the conductor element out ofengagement with the corresponding terminal.

3. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a member inthe form of a box open at one face, a member in the form of a plateloosely mounted on the box at said open face portion, terminals in saidbox in spaced relation to each other, a conductor element carried bysaid plate and movable therewith into releasable engagement with saidterminals, and hook members at the lower end portion of said box adaptedby operative engagement with said plate member and connected parts tosupport the plate member therefrom with said plate member held inslightly angular position from the vertical by engagement with the boxmember below said hook members.

4. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a member inthe form of a box open at one face, a member in the form of a plateloosely mounted on the box at said open face portion, terminals in saidbox in spaced relation to each other, a conductor element carried bysaid plate and movable therewith into releasable engagement with saidterminals, and interengaging lugs carried by said plate and one of saidterminals for movably supporting said plate member in slightly angularposition with respect to its final operative position, with saidconductor element in engagement with one of said terminals and out ofengagement with the other terminal, and adapted positively to limitoutward swinging movement of the lid on the box.

5. A device ofthe type described, comprising in comi ination a member inthe form of a box open at one face, a lid member in the form of a plateloosely mounted on the box for closing said face, terminals carried bj.'

said lid member on its inner face in spaced relation to each other, aconductor element connecting said terminals, line terminals in said boxin spaced relation to each other and each including spaced resilientlingers adapted to receive and grip one of said first named terminals,and means carried by the lower line terminal for movably supporting saidlid membei` at a slight angle. with respect to its final operativeposition with the lid member held against swinging to greater angularityby engagement with the lower end portion or" the box member.

6. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a member inthe form of a box open at one face, a lid member in the forni of a plateloosely mounted on the bex for closing said tace, terminals carried bysaid lid member on its inner face in spaced relation to each other, aconductor element connecting said terminals, line terminals in said boxin spaced relation to each other and each including spaced resilientfingers adapted to receive and grip one. of said first name-ctermina-ls, and means carried by the ngers of the lower line terminalfor movably supporting said lid member at a slight angle with respect toits final operative position with the lid member held against swingingto greater angularity by engagement with the lower end port-ion of thebox member.

7. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a member inthe form et a box open at one face, a lid member in the form of a plateloosely mounted on the bof; for closing said face, terminals carried bysaid lid member on its inner face in spaced relation to each other, aconductor element connecting said terminals, line terminals in said boxin spaced relation to each other and each including spaced resilientfingers adapted to receive and grip one of said first named terminals,outwardly extending lugs carried by the lower one of said firstnamedterminals, and means carried by the lower line terminal adapted byengagement with said lugs to movably support said lid member at a slightangle with respect to its final operative position with the lid memberheld against swinging to greater angularity with respect to the box byengagement with the lower end portion of the box.

8. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a member inthe itorm of a box open at one face, a lid member in the form of a plateloosely mounted on the box for closing said face, terminals carried bysaid lid member on its inner face in spaced relation to each other,conductor element connecting said terminals, line terminals in said boxin spaced relation to each other and each including spaced resilientfingers adapted to receive and grip one of said first named terminals,and hooks carried by the iingers of the lower line terminal adapted byengagement with the lower one of said first named terminals to movablysupport said lid member at a slight angle with respect to its finaloperative position with the lid member heid against swinging to greaterangularity by 1enggement with the box member below said ioo s.

9. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a member inthe form of a box open at one face, al lid member in the form o1" aplate loosely mounted on the box for closing said face, terminalscarried by said lid member on its inner ace in spaced relation to eachother, a conductor element coniecting said terminals, line terminals insaid box in spaced relation to each other and each including spacedresilient fingers adapted to receive and grip one of said first namedterminals, outwardly extending lugs carried by the lower one of saidfirst named terminals, and hooks carried by the fingers of the lowerline terminal adapted by engagement with said lugs to movably supportsaid lid member at a slight angle with respect to its final operativeposition with the lid member held against swinging tol greaterangularity by engagement with the lower end portion of the box member.

10. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a memberin the form of a box/open at one face, a member in the form of a plateloosely mounted on the box at said open :tace portion, terminals in saidbox in spaced relation to each other, a conductor structure carried bysaid plate and movable therewith into releasable engagement with saidterminals, upwardly extending lugs carried by the lower terminal in saidbox member, and outwardly extending lugs carried by the lower endportion of said conductor structure adapted by engagement with saidupwardly extending lugs to hold said plate member swung outwardly to aslight angle with respect to the box member, with the plate member heldfrom swinging to greater angularity with respect to the box byengagement of the lower end of the plate jnember with the lower end ofthe box memll. A device of the type described, comprising in combinationa member in the form of a box open at one face, a member in the form ofa plate loosely mounted on the box at said open face port-ion, terminalsin said box in spaced relation to each other, a conductor structurecarried by said plate and movable therewith into releasable enga ementwith said terminals, and means or swingingly supporting said platemember from its lower end adapted to permit free upward movement of theplate member with respect to the box member but adapted when the lowerend of the plate member is brought into operative engagement with thebox member to hold the member swung outwardly to a slight angle from thevertical.

l2. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a memberin the form of a box open at one face, a lid member in the form of aplate loosely mounted on the box for closing said face, terminalscarried by said lid member on its inner face in spaced relation to eachother, a conductor element connecting said terminals, line terminals insaid 5 box in spaced relation to each other and each including spacedresilient ingers adapted to receive and grip one of said first namedterminals, upwardly extending lugs carried by the ngers of the lowerline terminal, and

1o outwardly extending lugs carried by the lower one ot' said irst namedterminals adapted by engagement with said upwardly extending lugs tohold said lid member swung outwardly to a slight angle with respect tothe box member, with the lid member held from swinging to greaterangularity with respect to the box member by engagement of the lower endof the lid member with the lower end of the box member.

13. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a memberin the form of a box open at one face, a lid member in the form of aplate loosely mounted on the box for closing said face, terminals insaid box in spaced relation to each other, a conductor element carriedby said plate and movable therewith into releasable engagement with saidterminals, and inwardly extending guide pins carried by the lid memberon its inner so face normally standing clear of the box when the lid isin open position but adapted by engagement with guides on said boxmember when the lid is moved toward the box to assist in directing thelid member to operative closing position,

14. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a memberin the form of a box open at one face, a lid member in the form of aplate loosely mounted on the box for closing said face, terminals insaid box in spaced relation to each other, a conductor element carriedby said plate and movable therewith into releasable engagement with saidterminals, and guide pins carried by the lid member on its inner faceand having beveled inner ends normally standing clear of the box whenthe lid is in open position but adapted by a cam engagement with guideson said box member when the lid is moved towards the box to assist indirecting the lid member' to operative closing position.

15. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a memberin the form of a box open at one face, a lid member in the form of aplate loosely mounted on the box for closing said face, terminals insaid box in spaced relation to each other, a conductor element carriedby said plate and movable therewith into releasable engagement with 59said terminals, and cam means carried by the lid member adapted byengagement with a part of the box member to raise the lid member to itsnormal elevation as the lid member moves to its closing position.

JOHN F. DOHR'WARDT.

